Bronze Star

All items are taught and evaluated by a current Lifesaving Instructor.
Candidates must demonstrate competency on all items to pass.

H2O Proficiency

• In deep water, demonstrate deep and shallow head- and foot-first entries from a height (maximum of 1 m).
• Demonstrate a backward roll entry, wearing a shirt and long pants. Swim 10–15 m, and then remove and inflate the pants. Form a huddle for 1 minute with two or more others.
• Demonstrate the ability to recover an unconscious victim from deep water (maximum depth of 2 m), bring the victim to the surface, and carry him ir her to the nearest point of safety.
• Demonstrate a minimum 5 m head-up approach into a head-first surface dive, to retrieve an object from a depth of 2–3 m. Surface with the object and use the eggbeater kick for 5 m to return to your starting point.
• Demonstrate a 25 m head-up approach into a foot-first surface dive, to retrieve a 4.5 kg object (from a maximum depth of 2 m). Carry the object back to the point of entry. Exit the water and demonstrate rescue breathing on a manikin.
• Support a 4.5 kg object at the surface for 3 minutes or better, in deep water.
• Wearing a shoulder loop and line, swim a 100 m individual medley in 3 minutes or better as follows: 25 m each of lifesaving kick, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
• Swim 400 m in 12 minutes or better, using freestyle or any combination of strokes.

First Aid

• Demonstrate the ability to find and count the pulse and respiration rates on a partner. Demonstrate the ability to find and count your own pulse.
• Demonstrate single rescuer adult CPR on a manikin.
• Demonstrate the immobilization of a breathing victim with a possible spinal injury, on land.

Recognition and Rescue

Demonstrate the following:

• Simulation in the water of the appearance of a weak swimmer, non-swimmer, unconscious victim and injured victim.
• Recognize the difference between a weak swimmer and a non-swimmer, and recognize an unconscious and an injured victim.
• Demonstrate the ability to perform and recognize three different hand signals.
• Walk the perimeter of the aquatic facility to locate a submerged object within 30 seconds.
• Perform a search of an area with both shallow and deep water (maximum depth of 2 m).
• With a partner, perform a low-risk rescue of a non-swimmer or a victim with external bleeding. Assist the victim to safety, showing the ability to avoid direct contact. Perform appropriate follow-up procedures, including treatment for shock.
• Perform a rescue of an unconscious, non-breathing victim in deep water. Return to the beach, dock or poolside with the victim. Remove the victim from the water, directing untrained bystanders to assist. Performs appropriate follow-up procedures, including treatment for shock.